If you are at all familiar with the advertising business (and if you are reading this post, I’m assuming you are), then the premise of Ken Auletta’s new book Frenemies is painfully familiar: the decline of the Mad Men and the emergence of Quants that have undermined the traditional agency by automating most of the marketing process. So, is there anything new in the book that would make it worth an industry insider’s attention?

In these fractious and partisan times it’s interesting how U.S. politicians of all stripes are eager to distance themselves from their chosen profession. Democrats and Republicans alike, no matter their actual tenure, are all suddenly Washington “outsiders.” And in the Age of Trump, many have also developed a newly found appreciation for how businesses are run, and think government could learn a trick or two from corporate America. We don’t need a President, they seem to be saying, we need a...

It’s not new news, it’s just got worse: consulting and technology firms like Accenture, IBM and Deloitte are investing heavily in markets traditionally dominated by advertising, digital and brand agencies.

You doubt the trend? Then consider this:

Recent agency acquisitions
At Marketpinion, over the last year, we’ve tracked over 30 significant agency deals where a consulting firm has snapped up an agency: Sia acquired Fove; Accenture acquired HO; Deloitte bought...

The trend of management consulting firms buying their way into the agency world continues to accelerate, with digital and technology-focused firms being on the top of their lists. Overall, agency acquisitions seem to have slowed compared to the same period last year, although the market is still very healthy.

WPP is the world’s largest advertising agency and something of a bellwether for the industry. When times are good for WPP, then so it goes for other agencies across advertising, PR, research and elsewhere. But when times are bad…

Last week, one of WPP’s largest accounts, Ford Motor Company, surprised many by announcing it was putting the account up for bid. Some estimates...

The agency world continues to undergo structural changes, and this is reflected in a continued acceleration in agency M&A activity. We’re seeing a growth in non-traditional deals – for example, from the consulting industry – as well as continued interest in digital agencies with specific, niche skills and capabilities.

It doesn’t matter where you live – the U.S., Colombia, France, South Korea or the U.K. – your elections have been manipulated by Russia.

The U.S. is getting most media attention, but Russian efforts to change the outcome of elections is pervasive. The primary tools they use are social media, fomenting discord, fake news and inciting voters over one or other candidate that favors Russian interests.

Agencies profess an expertise in this world – they advise clients on social media...

About Us

Marketpinion is a unique community of global marketing professionals. We list and review thousands of PR, advertising, digital, research and brand agencies around the globe. If you are trying to find your next agency partner, want to review an agency you've used, or run an agency you'd like to list on Marketpinion, join us.